Devi's Penance In Kancheepuram

The sthalapurana of Ekambareswarar Temple at Kancheepuram says that when Lord Siva was deeply immersed in the task of creating, protecting and destroying the Universe, His consort Parvati playfully closed his eyes. The momentary closure caused eons of darkness for the Gods. To prevent similar incidents from recurring, Parvati Devi expressed to Shiva that she should unite with Him in a single form and Shiva agreed. Shiva used the occasion as a divine ploy to set an example of righteousness in atoning for causing harm to others, even if done unknowingly. He asked Parvati to do penance at Himalayas, Benaras, Kanchipuram and finally at Thiruvannamalai where He would yield His left side and unite with Her.

Accordingly, Parvati came to Kanchi, and under a mango tree on the banks of the river Kampa, started worshipping day and night a shivalinga made out of sand. In order to test Parvati's devotion Siva placed various obstacles and hindrances in the way of her penance. He set fire on her. To save Parvati, Vishnu took the Moon from Shiva's head and showed the rays which then cooled down the tree as well as Parvati. Shiva again sent the river Ganga (Ganges) to disrupt Parvati's penance. Parvati prayed to Ganga and convinced her that both of them were sisters and so should not harm her. Subsequently, Ganga did not disturb her penance. At last Siva took out the Ganges from his matted hair and hurled it at her. When the swelling waters tried to wash away the Linga, Parvati clasped it and held it to her breasts and this pleased Siva. Shiva further asked Parvati to move to Arunachala to complete her sadhana and unite with Him again.

A mango tree, the Sthala Viruksham is at the back of the Sanctum of the inner precincts of the temple, which is over 3500 years old. The branches of this Mango tree is said to bear four different types of mangoes, representing the four Vedas in Hinduism. It was under this tree that Lord Shiva married Parvati, an event witnessed by Sage Agastya, who could not attend the marriage at Kailasa because Lord Shiva had ordered him to proceed to South to counterbalance the earth. In the Tamil month of Panguni on the 10th day of Uttiram the marriage of Siva and Parvati is celebrated at Ekambareswarar temple with great pomp and splendor.

On the day of the Ratha Sapthami, the rays of Sun fall directly on Lord Siva in the Sanctum Sanctorum, a marvel in the temple's architecture.